Galaxy S21 FE 5G • Locked AT&T vs Galaxy S23 Ultra • Unlocked

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, released in January 2022, and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, launched in February 2023, are both Android smartphones from Samsung's diverse lineup. While both devices offer a comprehensive smartphone experience, the S23 Ultra is positioned as a premium flagship, featuring advanced capabilities, whereas the S21 FE aims to provide a strong feature set for a broader audience. Key distinctions between these models are evident in their camera systems, display characteristics, and overall performance.

The longevity of a smartphone is influenced by its release timeline, software support, and physical durability.

• Release Timeline: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G was introduced in January 2022, making it an earlier model compared to the Galaxy S23 Ultra, which became available in February 2023. This difference in launch dates impacts their remaining software support period.
• Software Longevity: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G launched with Android 12 and is anticipated to receive up to four major Android OS updates, with security updates typically extending for five years from its release, likely concluding around January 2027 for security patches. The Galaxy S23 Ultra, released with Android 13, is also promised four years of operating system updates and five years of security updates, extending its support until approximately February 2028. This provides the S23 Ultra with a longer period of official software support.
• Physical Durability: Both devices carry an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, indicating protection against immersion in water. The S21 FE 5G features Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for screen protection and has an aluminum frame with a plastic back. In contrast, the S23 Ultra incorporates Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on both the front and back, alongside an aluminum frame, contributing to a more robust construction.

The performance of these devices varies, particularly in their capacity for demanding tasks and overall power efficiency.

• Storage and Multitasking: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G is available with 128GB or 256GB of internal storage and comes with 6GB or 8GB of RAM. The Galaxy S23 Ultra offers more extensive storage options, including 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB, paired with 8GB or 12GB of RAM, providing greater capacity for files and smoother multitasking with numerous applications.
• Everyday Responsiveness: The S21 FE 5G handles daily applications and general usage effectively, though some users have noted that its performance can lead to quicker battery drain and occasional warming during extended or demanding use. The S23 Ultra, with its more advanced internal components, delivers consistently smooth performance across demanding applications and graphically intensive games, maintaining efficient thermal management even under heavy workloads.
• Battery Behavior: The S21 FE 5G is equipped with a 4500 mAh battery, which for heavy users, may necessitate charging more than once a day. The S23 Ultra features a larger 5000 mAh battery, and user experiences frequently highlight its exceptional endurance, often lasting a full day or even up to two days for moderate usage patterns.

Both smartphones offer vibrant displays, but there are notable differences in their size, resolution, and brightness capabilities.

• Display Technology and Size: Both devices utilize Dynamic AMOLED 2X display technology, known for its deep blacks and vibrant colors. The Galaxy S21 FE 5G features a 6.4-inch display, offering a comfortable viewing experience in a slightly more compact form factor. The Galaxy S23 Ultra provides a larger 6.8-inch display, which enhances immersion for media consumption and productivity tasks.
• Resolution and Brightness: The S21 FE 5G has a display resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels and can reach a peak brightness of up to 1200 nits. The S23 Ultra offers a higher resolution of 1440 x 3088 pixels, resulting in sharper images and text, and boasts a significantly brighter peak of 1750 nits, improving outdoor visibility.
• Refresh Rate: Both phones feature a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and responsive interactions. The S23 Ultra includes an adaptive refresh rate, which can dynamically adjust from 1Hz to 120Hz to optimize power consumption based on content. The S21 FE 5G has a fixed 120Hz refresh rate, though it can be manually set to 60Hz to conserve battery.

The camera systems on these devices cater to different photography needs, with the S23 Ultra offering a more advanced setup.

• Rear Camera System: The Galaxy S21 FE 5G features a versatile triple-camera setup, including a 12MP main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS), a 12MP ultrawide lens, and an 8MP telephoto lens capable of 3x optical zoom with OIS. The Galaxy S23 Ultra boasts a more comprehensive quad-camera system, highlighted by a 200MP main sensor with OIS, a 12MP ultrawide lens, and two 10MP telephoto lenses offering 3x and 10x optical zoom, both with OIS.
• Photography Performance: The S21 FE 5G delivers capable photos with good detail and color reproduction in various lighting conditions, suitable for everyday photography. The S23 Ultra is recognized for its exceptional detail, superior zoom capabilities, and strong performance in low-light environments, making it well-suited for capturing intricate details and distant subjects.
• Video Recording and Front Camera: Both devices offer robust video recording capabilities. The S21 FE 5G can record videos at 4K resolution at up to 60 frames per second, and its 32MP front camera also supports 4K video recording. The S23 Ultra elevates video capture with support for 8K resolution at 24 or 30 frames per second, in addition to 4K at 30/60fps. Its 12MP front camera also provides high-quality video for calls and selfies.